Freight-car door



Aug. 28, 1923.

J. L. GUERRANT FREIGHT can noon Filed May 25 "1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 awuemtoz J. L. GUZRRfl/VT a I Gr mm/ m IU J. L. GUERRANT FREIGHT CAR DOOR aw wk NR 5 a n m M MN R t V /IIW- I 6 B W ,aAZAAAAAAAAQNAAAQAA 5 E may NR WM 6 E R 6 m I A I e Q w 4% p 1 A v I I 2. m/ h MN .1 a s v L\ ill IV 5% I r 17/?) Q. we %& vv -vv 0 R H w N Y Aug. 28, 1923.

w w mm w Aug. 28, 1923. 1,465,982

J. L GUERRANT FREIGHT CAR DOOR Filed May 25, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet anmmtoz v Cllfkwnu,

Patented Aug. 28, 1923.

JOHN L." GUERR ANT, F SE-DALIA, MISSOURI.

teaser,

FREIGHT-CAB noon. 7

- 7 Application filed May 25, 1920., Serial Np; 384,-14 7.

T 0 a-ZZ 20 7mm it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN L. GUERRANT, a

V citizen of the United States, residing at Sedalia, in the county ofiPettis and State of iMissouri, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Freight-Car Doors,

of which the following is a specificatiomref erence being bad" therein to the accompanying drawing.v l

This'invention relates to grain car doors especially, although the improvements can be used on' the' doors of, freight cars generally, it being the object of the invention to equip a freight car door with auxiliary doors to facilitate filling the car with grain or other similar material, and for discharging the grain or giving access to the contents behindthe car door, so that the car can be emptied conveniently, such auxiliary doors being of novel construction to enhance the utility and efficiency thereoft Another object is the provision of novel means for mounting the auxiliary doors from the main car door, so as to provide a practical and serviceable construction;

A further obj ect is the. provision of novel means whereby the main door as well as the auxiliary doors can be retained in closed position under a single seal, preventing either the naindoor or auxiliary doors being opened. without breaking the seal, and the device being comparatively simple in construction and operation as well as practical and reliable. V

A still further object is the provision of novel means for fitting and clamping the mainrar door to the door frame,to' provide a tight fit or oint' for preventing the grain or other contents from leaking past the door, without the necessity of using an inner grain door as customary, and this feature is also useful for excluding dust, dirt, rain, air andthelike, from the contents of the car.

lVith the foregoing and other objects inview, which willbe apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changescan be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:' I

Figure 1 is a face view of the improvec door construction -Figs.'2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are sectional details taken on theirespective sectionllines;

2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, fi -7, and 8-8 of Fig. 1. V

Fig. 9 is a face view of. a modified formof auxiliary door. Y

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary face/view illustrating another mode of mounting the auxiliary doors.

The door frame'comprises, as usual, the. sill 14, andthe posts 15 and 16 at the opposite sides of the door opening andithe' main 7' car door 17 as shown, is composed of two layers of wood, although it canbe of metal, combination wood and metal or other suitable construction. Thev door is suspended for longitudinal movement along the exterior of the car wallfro-m a suitable track 18- extending over the doorway or opening.

The" door 17 and door frame are provided with means to fit them tightly together, when desired, for preventing leakage and also excluding the elements from the outsideof the car; Thus, a horizontal metallic strip 18 is secured to the outer'side of the door 17 along the lower edge; thereof, and projects downwardly beyond saidedge of the, door, as seen in: Fig. 8, and the lower edge portion of the strip 18 is bentback inwardly to form a hook or channel 19 which extends under andbehind a dependingflange-QO ofl'set out wardly from a plate or strip 21 secured. to..- the outer side of the sill 14. The offset portion of the strip 21 extends belowv the door.

17, when the door is closed, and. when the door is moved to closed position, it moves, over the flange. 20, while the hook or channel, 19 passes under and behind the flange 20. Bolts 22 are inserted through apertures in the strip or plate 18 and the flange 20, for clamping them together, and clamping the door 17: against the strip 21, thereby provid (,see- Fig. '6) and has a portion 525 bent 'outwardly at angle to-formv a stop'for t'he tions.

door, against which the forward vertical side edge of'the door '17 abutswhen said door is Slidt-o closed position. The portion 25 has auilange 26 bentat an angle away from the door, and a vertical strip. 27 is secured to the outer side of the door along the corresponding vertical edge thereof and projects beyond the edge of the door to overlap the flange 26 when the door is closed, Bolts 28 are inserted through apertures in the strip'27 and flange 26 for clamping them together, when a tight joint is desired. A vertical strip 29 secured along said edge of the door at the inner side thereof, projects beyond said edge to enter a vertical groove 30 provided between the strip 24 and post- 16, thereby providing a more perfectjoint against leakage.

A vertical strip 31 composed of two parts is secured to the opposite" vertical edge of the door, and is provided beyond the inner side of the door, with flanges 32 and 33 bent at an angle and projecting in opposite direc- A vertical strip or plate 34 is secure d to the outer side of the door post 15, and that edge portion of the plate 34 nearest the doorway is bent back outwardly, as

at 35, to provide a channel or groove for receiving the flange 33, when the door 17 is in closed position, thereby providing a tight joint, similar to that formed by the projecting portion of the strip 29 fitting in the groove 30, as above described. The flange 32 is used for clamping the corresponding edge portion of the doorto the door frame, bolts 36 being inserted through apertures in'the flange 32 and strip 34, and taking into the nuts 37 embedded in the 9 post 15 behind the strip 34. 7

Coming to the auxiliary doors, the maindoor 17 is provided with openings38 therein near the upper and lower edges thereof and near that vertical edge of the door 17 which moves across the doorway in opening and closing the door. and 40 surround the openings 38 at the inner and outer sides of the door, respectively, and are secured to the door to reenforce it atthe openings 38. Each outer 7 frame 40,

. which comprises a fiat plate, is provided at that edge nearest the opening 38 with an outturned portion 41 surrounding the opening, and having a flange 42 extending at an angle away from the opening, to receive the auxiliary door.

The'upper and lower'auxiliary doors are designated. 43 and 44, respectviely, and, as shown, they are duplicate constructions in reversed positions Each auxiliary door comprises a rectangular cap 45 or" sheet metal or other suitable material, having the marginal rim or flange 46'to surround-the flange 42andportion 41 when the cap is fitted against the flange 42, as seen in Fig. 2. The rim or flange 46 overlaps and is secured to Metallic frames 39 a rim member 47 of angular cross section,

'and said member, provides a stiff marginal portion or rim for the door. The rim member 47 is adapted to fit snugly against the frame orplate 40, and can be secured firmly thereto by means of bolts 48 inserted through aperturesin the member 47, frame 40 and door 17 to screw into nuts49 embedded in thefinner surface of the door hehind theframes 01": plates 39.

In order to mount the auxlliary .door s143 and 44 for movement to and from the openupper and lower auxiliary doors are in re versed position, as seen in Fig. 1. The ends of the portions 51 have hinge butts 52 mounted on horizontal-fhinge rods 53"disposed above and below the upper and lower auxiliary doors, respectively. As shown.

each rod 53 extends through lugs 54 of a 7 plate 55 secured to the door 17, with the ends of the rod seated in lugs 56 of plates 57 secured to the door at the Opposite ends of the plate 55, with the hinge'but ts 52 between the lugs 54 and 56. The portions 5ihave the caps or panels 45 of the auxiliary doors secured thereto by means of bolts 58, or thelike, whereby the auxiliary doors will swing with the arms 50. The arms 50 have the ex tensions '59 projecting from the portions 51,

'which are offset to lie close to the door 17 when the auxiliary doors; are closed, and

fastening the extensions 59 to the door 17, said bolts 60 screwing into nuts 61 embedded in the door 17 similar to the nuts 49.

lVith the arrangement'as shown, the extensions 59 of the two arms 50. proje ct toward one another, and a hasp arm (52,"similar in shape to the arms 50, is used for sealing' all three doors 17, 43, and 44. The U- shap'ed portion 630i the arm 62 has hinge butts 64 at its ends mounted on vertical hinge rods 65 seated in lugs 66 of plates 67 secured in pairs to the door 17, so that when the arms 50 have'been swung to close the auxiliary doors, the arm 62 can be swung to bring the opposite me'mbers of the portion 63 across theextensions 59, as seen inFig. 1. The arm 62 has a beep 68 extended from the portion 63 and is provided with n slot 69, and the arm 62 can be secured to the door 17 similar to the arms 50,"by means of a bolt 70 which takes into a nut 71 embedded in the door 17 as seen in Fi 3.

A latch is used for holding the arm 52' and retaining it in position under a single seal for all three doors- For this purpose, a plate 72 is secured to the strip or plate 24, and has outstanding keepers 73 and 74 so arranged that the hasp 68 passesover the keeper 73 when the arm 62 is swung to latching position. The keepers 73 and 74 have openings 76 for receiving the latch 75 to retainthe arm 62in place under the seal. The latch 75 is slidable vertically, as shown, and is movable between'vertical guides 77 ofiset from a plate 78 secured to the plate 72, said latch having flanges 79 movable behind said guides to retain the latch for vertical movement to andfrom latching position. Thus, when .the hasp 68 has been moved over the keeper 73, with the latch 5 in raised position within the guides 77, the latch can be dropped or slid downwardly through the keepers across the hasp 68, thereby p reventing the arm 62 from being swung away from the door frame, to release the arms 50. In

.order to receive .theseal, the latch 7 5 has an outstanding car 80 near .its upper end to move downwardly close to "the keeper 74 when the latch is moved to latching position, and the ear 80 and keeper 74 haveregistering openings 81 to receive the seal 82, which prevents the latch beingretracted upwardare held by the hasp arm 62. The arrangement is simple and elfective, the auxiliary door arms 50 engaging a third arm which'is held by the latch and seal.

In using the door 17, such as when filling .the car with grain, the door 17 is slid to closed position, thereby bringing the hook or channel 19 under and behind the flange 20, and moving the strip Y29 and flange 38 into the respective grooves or channels and 35. The bolts 22, 28 and '36 are then applied and tightened, to clamp the'vertical and lower edges of the door 17 tightly to the door frame, to prevent leakage of grain, and to make the door 17 perfectly rigid and secure. The lower arm is then swung upwardly to close the lower auxiliary door 44, and the bolts 48 are then applied to clamp the door 44 against the corresponding frame 40, and the bolt is also applied for holding the arm 50 firmly in place to resist the outward pressure against the panel or cap 45. The upper door 43 can be swung open by raising the upper arm 50, and the grain can then be run through the upper opening 38 for filling the car. After the car is filled, the upper auxiliary door 43 is closed, by swinging the arm 50 downwardly, and the upper auxiliary door can also be fastened by the bolts 48, and the upper arm 50 is fastened by the bolt G0. The arm 62 is then swung across the extensions59 and-fastened by the bolt and the hasp 68 then moved over the keeper 73. The latch 7 5 after being moved downwardly across the hasp 68 within the keepers 73 and 74, is fastened by the seal 82. The doors 17, 43 and 44 are. thus maintained closed position open away from the-extensions 59' of the .levers50. The bolts 48 of the auxiliary door .44 are then removed, and when the boltGO is loosened, the lower auxiliary door will swing opendownwardly, thereby starting the-dis charge of grainthrough the lower opening 38. The bolts 22, 28 and 36 can thenbe re- .moved, for sliding the door 17 open, and if necessary, the upper auxiliary door 43 can be opened before moving'the door 17 ,to give entrance into thecar for clearing the grain from behind the door 17. The .door .17 can then be slid open, so that a shovel can be used for removing thegrain, or enabling the 'grain to be removed in :thecustomary way.

The door is also useful for other merchandise and the bolts 22, 28 and 36-,need not be used, unlessit is desired to 'holdthe door 17 rigidly against the door frame,-to resist the thereof. The single seal will hold all three idoors closed, and by releasing the arms 62 --and. 50, the auxiliary doors cairbe opened for gaining access to the contents, without opening the door l7,'wher'eby merchandise in rear of the door 17 can be removed or 'loosened should the *merchandise. jam up against the door. In using the door for ordinary freight, the bolts 48'o'f the auxiliary doorsneed not be used, unless'it :is desired to hold the auxiliary doors tight against the frames 40 to "prevent leakage. Any water :or moisture which may leak past the upper edges of.the auxiliary doors between the upper edges of the frames 40 and rim members 47, will becaught within the channels or troughs formed by the portions 41 and flanges 42 of the frames 40, thereby draining such water around the opposite sides of the openings 38, to drain downwardly past the lower edges of the auxiliary doors, without entering the. openings "38. I

y The auxiliary doors-when used with certainelasses of freight, such as fruit, vegetables and fthedike, requiring ventilation or examination, can have the caps or panels '45 substituted by -oth-ers,'one of which isshown in Fig. 9. The capor panel 45 replaces the :cap orpanel 45 and rim member 47, 'andfiis secured to the corresponding arm 50. Said panel or cap '45 has slots or openings 45?,

providing for-ventilation, and also enabling.,.

an inspector to observe the contents'without panel as shown, eliminates the rim mem 'ber'47, which is not necessary 1n this case.

In Fig. 10, a modified mounting for the lower auxiliary door is shown, permitting said door to swing-upwardly, instead of downwardly, thereby avoiding the possible injury to the person opening such door, should there be any such liability with the downwardly swinging door 44, as above de-.

.44 and extends upwardly across'the auxiliary door and behind the hasp arm 62, being secured to-the door 17 by the bolt .60 as hereinbefore described in connection with the arm 50. The arms and 51 are hinged to the door 17 by'means of hinge rods 53 seated in lugs 56'" secured tothe door 17, similar to the hinges hereinbefore described. With this arrangement, when the arm 50 is releasedby the arm 62, the arm 50' will swing downwardly when the bolt 60 is loosened,.but the auxiliary door 44-will swing upwardly in opening. The arm 50, however, retains the auxiliary door 44 in closed position when held by the arm 6:2, although the door 44 is hinged at its upper edge independent of the hinge of'the arm 50, thereby separating the hinges of the door and retaining arm and locating them so that the door. 44 can swing open outwardly and upwardly to avoid possible injury to the person releasing the arm 50. r

Haring thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is r 1. A freight car door having upper and lower openings, an auxiliary door for each of said openings, means for individually holding said auxiliary doors closed and engaging the car door, arsingle unit between .said openings cooperable with the aforesaid means for holding both auxiliary doors closed, and means for the attachment of. the last named means to the car door frame for holding all three doors closed.

2. A freight car door having upper and iower openings, auxiliary doors to extend across and close said openings, an arm for each auxiliarydoor hinged to the car door beyond one edge of-the auxiliary door and extending across such auxiliary door with the free end of. the arm projecting beyond the opposite edge of the auxiliary door, and

.meanscarried by the car doorfor overlapping and holding the free ends of said arms.

31A freight car door having upper and lower openings, auxiliary doors to extend across and close said openings, arms hinged iliary door closed.

to the car door beyond the opposite edges of the two auxiliary doors and extending across said doors toward one another with the free ends of said arms projectingbeyond the ad jacent edges of the auxiliary doors, and

means carried by thecar door between said openings for overlapping and holding the free ends of said arms.

4. A freight car door having two openings, auxiliary doors to extend across and close said openings, arms hinged to the car door beyond the opposite edges ofthe auxiliary doors and extending'across said'auxiliary doors toward one another with the free ends of said arms projecting beyond the adjacent edges of the auxiliary doors,

and an arm hinged to the car door between said openings to swing toward the car door and. overlap the'free ends of said arms; 5. A freight car door having upper and lower openings, auxiliary doors .to extend upper and lower openings for overlapping and holding the upper end of said arm and also arranged for holding the upper aux- 6. A freight car door having upperand lower openings, auxiliary doors to extend across and close said openings, an arm hinged to the car door at the lower edge of the lower auxiliary door and extending upwardly across said lower auxiliary door, and an arm hinged to the 'cardoor between said openings to swing toward the car. door and overlap the upper. end of the first named arm, the second named arm being also arranged to hold the upper auxiliary door closed;

7. A freight car doorhaving an opening, a frame surrounding said opening having an outturned portion provided with a flange extending away from the opening and forniing a trough surrounding the opening for catching moisture and water and conducting same around the opening an auxiliary door including a cap to fit against said flange and to surround said portion, and

retaining means for holding the auxiliary door in place. 7 r

8. A freight car door having an opening, a frame surrounding said opening having an outturned portion surrounding the opening, an auxiliary door having a cap to surround said portion and a rim member to bear against said frame, means for securing said rim' member to the frame, and retaining means carried by the car door to extend across said cap.

9. A freight car door having upper and lower openings, auxiliary doors to extend across and close said openings, means for holding said auxiliary doors closed including arms extending toward one another beyond the adjacent edges of the auxiliary doors, said arms being swingable away from one another and away from the car door for opening the auxiliary doors, and means carried by the car between said openings to overlap the adjacent ends of said arms and hold them adjacent to the car door.

10. A freight car door having upper and lower openings, auxiliary doors to extend across and close said openings, means for holding said auxiliary doors closed including arms extending toward one another beyond the adjacent edges of the auxiliary doors, said arms being swingable away from means for individually securing said members to the car door for holding the auxiliary doors closed, a member carried by the car door and movable toward said car door to engage the aforesaid members for holding them and the auxiliary doors in place, and means for fastening the last named member to the car door frame against movement away from the car door and to hold the car door closed.

12. A freight car door having upper and lower openings, an auxiliary door to extend across each of said openings, a member associated with each auxiliary door for retaining same in place across the corresponding opening, means for individually securing said members to the car doorfor holding the auxiliary doors closed, means carried by the car door between said openings and movable as a single unit to engage said members simultaneously for holding both auxiliary doors in place, and means for fastening the last named means to the car door frameto hold said last named means and car door.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JOHN L. GUERRANT. 

